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Overview
Founded in 1989, Central Institute of Fisheries Education is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the the urban setting of the metropolis of Mumbai (population range of over 5,000,000 inhabitants), Maharashtra. Officially accredited/recognized by the University Grants Commission, India, Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) is a coeducational higher education institution. Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as master degrees in several areas of study. CIFE also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, as well as administrative services.
History
Standing tall on a dynamic history of more than five decades, Central Institute of Fisheries Education (Deemed University) can justifiably be called the national leader in fisheries education in India. The institute has been committed to the development of qualified and trained manpower to plan, execute and manage various fisheries developmental programmes in the country.
Brief History & Development of the Institute
The Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) was established by the Government of India, with the assistance of FAO/UNDP on 6th June 1961. The main purpose of its establishment was to impart post-graduate education and training largely to the inservice fisheries personnel of the country to support fisheries developmental activities. The CIFE started functioning at the Institute of Science Building in Bombay (Mumbai, now) and initially the academic activities were organized in three divisions viz. Fishery Biology, Fishery Technology and Fishery Economics for conducting a two-year postgraduate course of Diploma in Fisheries Science (D.F.Sc.). The Institute was shifted to a rented building at Masjid Bunder, Bombay in 1964. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, at this stage, actively collaborated with the Govt. of India and helped in strengthening infrastructural facilities at CIFE by providing sophisticated equipments together with expertise of high standard. The fishing vessel, MFV Harpodon received under FAO/UNDP assistance in 1968 provided basic facilities for on-board training in the areas such as marine fishing, fishery biology and oceanography. The Institute headquarters moved to its own building at Versova in March 1967 and acquired its first centre, the Inland Fisheries Training Centre, Barrackpore in West Bengal from Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) in October 1967. The Institute also took control of the erstwhile Fisheries Extension Centres of the Govt. of India and organized them as sub-centres for Inland Fisheries Operatives Training at Agra and Hyderabad. These centres were subsequently shifted to Chinhat near Lucknow (UP) and Kakinada (AP).
The infrastructural needs in terms of aqua farms were greatly fulfilled by the transfer of Brackishwater Fish Farm at Kakinada in September 1968 and the Freshwater Fish Farm at Balabhadrapuram in 1973 from the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. In 1967, the University of Bombay accorded recognition to CIFE as a study centre for M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes by research in the fields of Applied Zoology and Biochemistry. Several other institutions such as IIT, Mumbai, IIT, Kharagpur and Mangalore University also recognized CIFE as a study centre for Ph.D. programmes.
Under Administrative Control of ICAR:
The administrative control of institute was taken over by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research on 1st April 1979. With this, the charter of CIFE was enlarged to cover research and extension activities besides its academic programmes. From a set-up of three divisions initially, the Institute added four more divisions during the VI Five Year plan period. The Institute acquired a 36.87 meter training-cum-research vessel (MFV Saraswati) with the NORAD Aid in December 1982, to strengthen its onboard programmes in marine fisheries and oceanography. During this period, the training facility in freshwater aquaculture also received a boost with the acquisition of a 100 acre fish farm at Powerkheda from the Govt. of Madhya Pradesh in 1983. Also, the Chinhat Training Centre at Lucknow was taken over from the Government of Uttar Pradesh for shifting the Inland Fisheries Operatives Training Centre from Agra.
During 1984, the M.Sc. course in Fisheries Management was started with affiliation to the University of Bombay. Dissertation component was introduced as an essential requirement of the D.F.Sc. and the Certificate courses. In 1985, a resolution was made by the ICAR and the Ministry of Agriculture to raise CIFE to the status of a Deemed-to-be- University. An Operational Research Project (ORP) for the ground saline water aquaculture was started at Sultanpur in Haryana. Three more divisions were added to then existing seven, during the VII Five Year Plan period. Consequently, with these enlarged charter of activities, the staff strength of CIFE rose from a mere 19 in 1961 to 398 in 1985.
Deemed University Status:
The Deemed University status conferred on it in 1989 came as a fitting tribute to its pioneering role in human resource development for fisheries sector. CIFE, thus, has the distinction of becoming the first Fisheries University in India. With this, the M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes, hitherto being conducted under affiliation to the University of Bombay, were brought under the academic purview of CIFE. The M.Sc. academic programmes were recast as M.F.Sc. (Master of Fisheries Science) during the year 1995 and were offered in three specializations, viz., Fisheries Resources Management (FRM), Inland Aquaculture (IAC) and Mariculture. Ph.D. programmes were also offered in these specializations. During the same year, the M.F.Sc. and Ph.D.courses in Mariculture, offered till then under affiliation to the Cochin University of Science and Technology, were brought under the CIFE banner.
Following the recommendations of the Quinquennial Review Team of 1995, the one-year Postgraduate Certificate Courses in Fisheries Extension and Inland Fisheries Operatives Management conducted at the Kakinada and Chinhat centres respectively, were wound up from the academic year 1995-96. The Institute set an exemplary trend in collaborative academic endeavours by starting two new Master of Fisheries Science (M.F.Sc.) programmes in Freshwater Aquaculture and Post-harvest Technology at CIFA, Bhubaneswar and CIFT, Kochi respectively under the CIFE banner.
Grant of Accreditation to CIFE, Mumbai:
As a part of new initiatives taken by Indian Council of Agricultural Research to ensure quality in higher education by the process of accreditation of agricultural education system, CIFE has initiated institutional accreditation process in 2001. The information and data on various aspects of CIFE was collected from different task forces constituted for the purpose. The collected information along with the data of available documents was processed and edited to bring out a self-study report consisting of 12 chapters encompassing 12 annexure, 31 tables and 27 figures running into 218 pages. The self-study report was submitted to the Accreditation Board, ICAR, New Delhi on 19th November 2001.
The Self-Study Report for Accreditation was validated by the Peer Review Team constituted by the Director General, ICAR, New Delhi. In response to report of the Peer Review Team in respect of CIFE and its postgraduate centers, the comments and views on how to overcome the challenges and implementing the suggestions were submitted to the Council on 3rd December 2003. Based on the recommendations of the ICAR Peer Review Team, the Accreditation Board of ICAR, New Delhi granted the Accreditation to the CIFE, Mumbai and the Letter of Accreditation was issued by the Accreditation Board on 25 August 2004. In view of the accreditation status granted to CIFE, Mumbai, the institute has taken a forward step to offer course work of all the MFSc and Ph.D. programmes at CIFE, Mumbai. The accreditation has helped the institute to bring all the academic programmes under its fold.
ISO Certification:
CIFE has been awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification by Basic Certifications (BSCIC) based on the assessment conducted during March 2013 and operation of Quality Management System at CIFE, Mumbai which complies with the requirements of ISO 9001:2008 to develop Qualified Human Resources in the Specialized Field of Fisheries. The quality policy drives the Institution for a continual improvement and also communicates the intension of management to meet the requirements of students. This process allows for improvement of the internal communication by regular management review meetings and setting quality objectives. The ISO standard allows the system to be regularly audited internally by trained auditors so as to keep it updated. Subsequently, the system of document and record control will improve the traceability and retrieval of records. The implementation of ISO 9001:2008 system would help in identifying the products and process which are not conforming to the requirements and to take suitable corrective and preventive actions.
About us
ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) is a leading Fisheries University having a distinguished heritage and has nurtured many illustrious scholars and leaders over the years. In over 50 years of existence, CIFE has emerged as a centre of excellence for higher education in fisheries and allied disciplines. The Institute was established on 6th June 1961, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India with assistance from FAO/UNDP. It came under the administrative control of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on 16th April 1979 and subsequently, the scope and mandate have been widened to include education, research and extension.
Recognizing the pivotal role played by CIFE in human resources development in fisheries, the institute was conferred the status of Deemed-to-be-University on 29th March 1989. Encouraged by the new status, the University grew by leaps and bounds. Building professional capabilities and competencies of more than 4000 State fisheries extension and development personnel since 1961, the emphasis has always been on quality education. Now CIFE is a knowledge powerhouse and a brand name in fisheries higher education.
From a modest beginning in 1961, CIFE is now located in a new campus with state-of-the-art facilities and is looking forward to the future with great optimism and excitement. As a leading university, CIFE seeks to innovate and adopt best practices in educational and research programmes that prepare students to be leaders in the respective domains. CIFE has created an ecosystem of teaching and research excellence making it a preferred destination of students. The breadth of disciplines and collaboration among constituent institutions give unparallel opportunity to students to cross departmental boundaries and explore different horizons.
Our Campus
The University has two campuses one at Yaari Road and another close by at Seven Bungalows, in Mumbai. The new Yari road campus (three floors and basement) houses scientific divisions, chambers of the Director and Joint Director, Academic and Accounts sections, Conference hall, Community hall, Aquarium, Examination and Academic cells, Library building, Staff quarters and Ladies hostel etc. Wet labs, ponds and hatcheries are also developed in Yari road campus. The old campus at Seven Bungalows houses three divisions, laboratories, classrooms, computer cell, committee room, auditorium, workshop and museum. These two campuses are a kilometer apart from each other at Versova. The University with its headquarters at Mumbai has four centres at Kolkata (West Bengal), Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), Powerkheda (Madhya Pradesh) and Rohtak (Haryana) near Delhi. The Institute’s field facilities include 20 ha Freshwater Fish Farm at Powerkheda (Madhya Pradesh); 9.0 ha Freshwater Fish Farm at Balabhadrapuram (Andhra Pradesh); 7.5 ha Brackishwater Fish Farm at Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 4 ha Freshwater Fish Farm and 10 ha Ground Saline Water Farm at Rohtak for training and research in aquaculture. The Institute has two training-cum-research vessels viz.: M.F.V. Saraswati (36 m OAL) and M.F.V. Narmada (11 m OAL) for training and research in marine fisheries.
Infrastructure
Laboratories
- Hatchery/ Nursery for Ornamental Fish and Giant Freshwater Prawn
- Fish / Molluscan Biology and Taxonomy Lab
- Biotechnology and Molecular Genetics Lab
- Biochemistry, Nutrition and Feed Formulation Lab
- Disease Diagnostics and Cell Culture Lab
- Fish Processing and Quality Control Lab
- Bioinformatics Lab
- Algal Taxonomy and Culture Lab
- Electron Microscopy Facility
Library
The “National Library for Fisheries and Allied Sciences” at CIFE is housed in an expansive area and provides a serene setting for literature search and reading. It has a rich collection of books, journals and online databases. An Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) provides information about all the available publications. The library has a collection of about 35,000 books along with 135 e-books and subscribes about a hundred foreign and Indian journals. The digital section of the library is equipped with 28 computer terminals connected to LAN and internet. The ongoing NAIP project “e-GRANTH” aims to digitize the in-house publications and to connect different libraries of ICAR and State Agricultural Universities.
Learning Resources
Equipped with modern audio-visual aids and round the clock broadband connectivity, CIFE classrooms enable effective teaching. Moreover, sophisticated laboratories provide an effective learning environment. The Institute has a modern auditorium, community hall, conference hall and committee rooms for hosting seminars, conferences and cultural events. An attractive ornamental fish facility housing several varieties draws a large number of visitors particularly school and college students
On-Line Examination Facility
The institute has established the National On-line Examination Facility for conducting ARS/NET examinations.
Other Education Facilities
All class rooms are equipped with modern audio visual aids. The laboratories have advanced facilities for providing effective learning environment. A campus wide LAN facility provides round the clock internet service with high speed broadband connectivity. CIFE has a modern auditorium, conference hall, committee room equipped with the latest audio visual equipment for hosting seminars, conferences and cultural functions. Video conferencing facility connects CIFE and its centres with several academic institutions across India and the world making seamless real-time interaction possible.
Vessels
CIFE has two fishing vessels namely MFV Saraswati (OAL-36m) and MFV Narmada (OAL-11m) to support its on-board research and training programmes on fishing, navigation, oceanography and other such studies. The vessel Saraswati is equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS), Very High Frequency Radio (VHFR), Radiotelephone (RP), Echo sounder, Sonar and Trawl eye.
Museum
CIFE museum houses a fascinating collection of a large variety of finfish and shellfish and other aquatic animals, mostly collected during Institute’s cruise programmes organised for students.
Accommodation
Modern facilities have recently been created at CIFE for accommodating staff and students. These include Boys Hostel, Girls Hostel, Residential Complexes for faculty members and a spacious and tastefully decorated International Guest House. The campus has round the clock internet service with broadband connection.
Sports And Recreational Facilities
CIFE has excellent facilities for sports and recreation like international standard modern badminton courts, gymnasium, tennis, volley ball & basketball courts and indoor games like table tennis, chess, carrom etc. Students and staff of CIFE enthusiastically participate in ICAR level sports meet and consistently win various medals and laurels.
Aquarium
CIFE maintains a fascinating collection of variety of finfish and shellfish and other aquatic animals in the newly constructed aquarium facility.
Guest House, Hostels & Residences
On-campus modern facilities for students and faculty in the form of 2 Boys Hostels, 1 Girls Hostel, Staff Residences and Guest House are available and provided with internet facility
Farms Facilities At Cife Centres
IFE has four strategically located centres at Kolkata (West Bengal), Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), Powerkheda (Madhya Pradesh) and Rohtak (Haryana). The centres are well equipped to provide experiential entrepreneurship education and training in diversified areas of aquaculture. Further, most of the outreach programmes and related activities are executed through these field centres.
